Attachment for type-writers.



H. ELLIOTT.

ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITERS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1912.

1,052,046. Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.,wASH|NaToN. D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD ELLIOTT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR T0 UNDER- WOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city oflVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Type-lVrit-ers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to typewriters and specifically to an attachment which comprises a shelf designed to rest on the typewriter frame at or near the visual angle to the printing point.

The principal object of this invention is to construct a light detachable shelf designed to cooperate with the front bar of a visible writer typewriter in such manner that a memorandum pad upon the shelf is in substantial alinement with the visual angle to the printing point.

A further object of this invention is to construct a memorandum pad holder adapted to be wholly supported by the front bar of the visible writer typewriter and arranged to have longitudinal movement upon the front bar in order to facilitate normal movement of the typewriter carriage when it is desired to write in a few words or total of a sum in addition.

Other and further objects of this invention will in part be obvious and will in part be pointed out in the specification by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several figures thereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device in position upon a typewriting machine; the several parts of the typewriting machine being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device detached from its normal position on the typewriting machine.

In the use of a typewriting machine, particularly by auditors and accountants, it frequently becomes necessary to perform pencil computations or notes, requiring the use of memorandum pads, at the same time requiring the attention of the writer to be directed more specifically to the matter upon the typewritten sheet in front of him in the machine. In adding by means of a pencil, a series of columns on a sheet of paper in the typewriting machine, and making pencil notes upon a memorandum pad upon a desk, the writer is required to constantly shift the angle of vision from the machine to the desk top, also to turn the head and permit the eyes to accommodate themselves to the diiference in visual distance between the paper in the machine and the memorandum pad upon the desk. The work, specified above, very quickly tires a writer and greatly impairs his endurance and efficiency.

The invention which will hereinafter be more specifically described, comprises a small detachable, substantially flat shelf which is designed specifically to be attached to the front scale bar of an Underwood typewriting machine in such manner as to carry a memorandum pad directly before the eyes of the writer and substantially in the same angle of vision as matter upon a typewritten sheet in the machine. Thus it will be seen that this device provides a holder for a memorandum tablet which may be used without requiring the writer to turn his head, or shift the angle of vision, and which does not require the eyes to accommodate themselves for varying visual distances. The device is also specifically designed not to interfere with the normal operations of the typewriter, in that, it is constructed to slide upon the front scale bar and is designed to pass over the margin stop indicators. And furthermore, the device when in position forms a convenient hand rest on which to position the wrist to arrange the hand in convenient relation to the typewritten columns in the machine when it is desirable to use a pencil or other pointer to designate specific numerals that are being added together.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 2, the ,device comprises a shelf member 1 provided at its upper and outer corners with holding hooks 2 that are bent upward as at 4: curved over as at 5, and hook under as at 6. The metal between the hooks 2, as at 7 is cut away in order not to cover up margin stop indicators. The curved under portion 6 of the hooks is provided with rounded corners 8 in order to more easily facilitate the sliding of the device along the front bar of the typewriter, as will be hereinafter described. The lower end of the shelf member 1 is formed with an upturned edge 9,

the middle upper portion of which is extended into a spring clamp 10. Immediately beneath the spring clamp 10, as at 11, the metal is cut away to form an opening. The purpose of cutting away the metal as at 11 is to provide atorsion spring, in that the cutting away the metal as at 11, leaves the upturned edge 9, from the points A to B, as a flat bar attached at its ends, consequently the metal between A and B acts as a torsion spring, and therefore this construction gives greater resilience to the spring clamp 10. This is especially desirable when the device is constructed of heavy sheet metal. The cut out portion 11 also facilitates the buffing or polishing of the device when it is constructed of a metal, or a metal plating, requiring to be polished, for the reason by means of the cut out port-ion 11 it is very easy to buff the under portion of the spring clamp 10. Furthermore, it provides an opening through which a thin sheet of paper may be grasped by means of the clamp 10, between the thumb and finger in removing the shelf with the paper thereon.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the supporting hooks 2 go over and under the front bar 12 of the typewriting machine in such manner as to support the shelf 1, carrying a memorandum pad 1 1, in front of the machine in a position substantially equivalent to the visual angle to the paper 15, on the platen 16 of the machine. It will be noted that the cut away portion 7 enables the writer at all times to observe the position of the margin stop indicator 17 in its position with reference to the scale 18. It will furthermore be noted that the supporting hooks 2- are substantially in the path of the printing point indicator 19, and as the device rests lightly and freely upon the front bar 12, the printing point indicator 19 will move the device along when it is desired to write in a total, or any short memorandum from the memorandum pad 14L.

The device of course, is detachable and is not intended to be moved back and forth in the ordinary course of writing, but as has hereinbefore been explained, if it is desired to write a total or short sentence the device is constructed movable on the front bar 12, and therefore need not be removed until its purpose as a memorandum pad holder has been entirely finished. The device also has a further use in that when an error is made in writing the last line at the bottom of a page of paper, it is often impossible to make an erasure without taking the paper out of the machine, for the reason that to turn the paper sufiiciently above the line of printing in order to conveniently reach it with an eraser, means to turn the paper beyond the control of the paper feeding devices.

The shelf hereinbefore described, forms a stable support upon which the paper may be run backward through the machine and,

the end lapped over thereby rendering it possible to erase at the bottom of the sheet upon said shelf.

2. An attachment for typewriting machines comprising a shelf formed of sheet metal and provided at its outer ends with supporting hooks; said hooks comprising upwardly bent portions having downwardly inturned supporting edges adapted to fit under the front bar of a typewriter in such manner as to form the sole support for said shelf; the lower end of said shelf member being provided with a paper retaining edge having a clamping tongue formed integral therewith.

3. An attachment for typewriting machines comprising a shelf formed of sheet metal and provided at its upper edge with a cut away portion; supporting hooks formed upon the upper outer corners of said shelf and comprising an upwardly bent portion and a downwardly extending inturned portion adapted to engage the front bar of a typewriter and capable of sliding lengthwise thereupon, and a paper clip adapted to maintain sheets of paper in position upon said sheet.

4. An attachment for typewriting machines comprising a shelf formed of sheet metal arranged with supporting hooks at the upper outer corners thereof; said supporting hooks comprising upwardly bent members provided with inturned lower ends capable of engaging the front bar of a typewriting machine; the portion of metal between said hooks being cut away to form a sight opening; the lower portion of said shelf being provided with an opening; and a spring clamp arranged above said opening, substantially as described.

Signed in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

. HOWARD ELLIOTT. WVitnesses GEO. W. RAMSEY, M. B. NICHOLS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

